Detection of SARS-CoV-2 lineage P.1 in patients from a region with exponentially increasing hospitalization rates in February 2021, Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil

The emergence SARS-CoV-2 P.1 lineage has been coincidental with a rapid growth in hospitalization in the northern region of Brazil. An exponential growth of severe COVID-19 occurred in Rio Grande do Sul state, Southern Brazil in February-2021. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the previously undetected P.1 lineage accounted for 88.9% of specimens collected from patients at a referral COVID-19 hospital. These findings raise concerns regarding a possible association between lineage P.1 and rapid growth in cases and hospitalizations.